Roland Jupiter-8

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Image:Jupiter-8.jpg
Jupiter-8 by Roland
Synthesis type:		Analog subtractive
Polyphony:		8 voices
Oscillators:		2 VCOs
Multitimbral:		2
VCF:		1 resonant lowpass, 1 highpass
VCA:		2 ADSR
LFO:		1 triangle/square/sawtooth/reverse sawtooth
External control:		DCB (on later models)
Memory:		64 patches
Onboard effects:		None
Produced:		1981 - 1985

The Jupiter-8 was Roland's flagship analog synthesizer of the early 1980s, an eight-voice polyphonic synth which helped to define the New Wave genre, and it is still quite popular today.

The Jupiter-8, introduced in the fall of 1981, is highly programmable, featuring analog slider controls for most of its parameters, and thus encourages users to create their own patches. While lacking the soon-to-be standard of MIDI control, later model Jupiter-8s did have Roland's proprietary DCB control protocol, and sported advanced features such as an arpeggiator and the ability to split the keyboard into two zones, with a separate patch active on each (later models allowed the user to adjust the split point). The Jupiter-8 was discontinued in 1985. Only 2,000 Jupiter-8s were manufactured.

1 Features and architecture
2 Reliability
3 In the present day
4 MKS-80
5 Notable uses
6 External links

[edit] Features and architecture

The Jupiter-8 (as the name suggests) is an 8-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer, hosting a highly intuitive user interface. It features 24 dB/octave filters with 2 and 4-pole settings, cross-modulation, sync, low and high-pass filters, two VCOs per voice with a variety of waveforms to choose from, an LFO (with variable waveforms and routings), pulse-width modulation, two envelopes (each with an inversion switch), adjustable portamento, a hold function for making sound design easier, a versatile arpeggiator, assignable pitch-bender, instrument layer and split modes, robust load and save functionality for its 64-patch memory, a DCB port for attaching an external MIDI interface or other DCB-compatible device, a DIN port for attaching the Roland TR-808 drum machine, built-in XLR outputs, and—in addition to legato and polyphonic modes—the Jupiter-8 includes a very powerful unison mode.

[edit] Reliability

A Z80 CPU was included for managing storage of patches, scanning the keyboard on startup, port handling, and taking care of the auto-tune function. While some claim that the Jupiter-8 has difficulty holding steady tuning, it turns out that this only affects some earlier versions. Later revisions of the Jupiter-8 stay in tune, and likely will not ever require re-tuning. The soldered-in battery typically lasts ten years or more, ranking these boards as one of the lowest-maintenance synths of their generation. Typically, JP-8s that require maintenance, require it due to hairline cracks arising from extensive touring.

[edit] In the present day

The classic sounds that the Jupiter-8 can produce, along with its sturdy construction, make it a venerable instrument even in this era of digital synthesizers and samplers, many of which seem to be superior. Units that are in good condition now bring more at auction than most new keyboards, suggesting that the Jupiter-8's impact will continue to be heard for years to come. The sound of the Jupiter-8 is very characteristic, and has been used extensively on albums from the early 1980s to the present day, likely due to its ability to create highly sophisticated sounds.

[edit] MKS-80

The Roland MKS-80 is a sound module which has the similar voice layout as the Jupiter-8 but is electronically similar to the Jupiter-6. It is basically an 8-voice Jupiter-6, with more modulation capabilities, a bass-boost circuit, and a capable MIDI implementation.